O-17 Courier

Infobox Aircraft
name = O-17 Courier
type = Observation
manufacturer = Consolidated Aircraft Company


caption = Consolidated O-17
designer =
first flight = April 1927
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = United States National Guard
more users = Royal Canadian Air Force
produced = 1928
number built = 35
unit cost =
variants with their own articles = Consolidated PT-3The Consolidated Model 2 Courier was an observation and training airplane used by the United States National Guard, under the designation O-17.

Development

A parallel development to the PT-3 series, the XO-17 was a converted PT-3 with such refinements as improved fuselage streamlining, oleo shock absorbers, wheel brakes, balanced elevators and increased fuel capacity"United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.] .

Used almost exclusively as a cross country flying, gunnery, photographic and radio trainer."The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gifcover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.] The O-17 had a removable fairing (carring a Scarff ring mounting for one .30 cal (7.62 mm) trainable Browning machine gun.

The Royal Canadian Air Force purchased three generally similar aircraft, two Model 7 landplanes and one Model 8 floatplane, the latter with the same float gear as the NY series.

The sole XO-17A was converted from the PT-3 as a demonstrator that failed to secure any orders"The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gifcover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.] . It was later fitted with the experimental Packard DR-980 Diesel engine of 225 hp (168 kW)"United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.] .

The Model 15 was also an O-17 type airframe fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine. It too failed to win any contracts"The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gifcover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.] .

Variants

;XO-17 (prototype):Consolidated PT-3 Conversion with a 225hp Wright R-790-1 engine, streamlined fuselage, modified undercarriage, increased fuel capacity, provision for dual controls and a dorsal 0.3 in gun, one conversionAndrade, John M. "U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hinckley, England: Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9] .;O-17 Model 2 Courier:Production version for United States National Guard use, 29 built"The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gifcover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.] ;XO-17A (prototype):One Consolidated PT-3 converted with a Wright R-790-3 engine intended for exportAndrade, John M. "U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hinckley, England: Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9] .;Model 7 (RCAF landplane):Royal Canadian Air Force, two built"The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gifcover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.] ;Model 8 (RCAF floatplane):Royal Canadian Air Force, one built"The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gifcover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.] ;XPT-8 (demonstrator):The airframe of the XO-17A prototype fitted with a Packard DR-980 Diesel engine of 225 hp (168 kw), scrapped in 1932"United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.] ;Model 15 (demonstrator):Conversion with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine"The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" [http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gifcover] Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.]

Operators

;flag|Canada|1921
*Royal Canadian Air Force;flag|United States|1912
*United States National Guard

pecifications (O-17)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref="The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 2002, 1152 pp.
crew= Two
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 27 ft 11 in
length alt= 8.51 m
span main= 34 ft 5.5 in
span alt= 10.5 m
height main= 9 ft 9 in
height alt= 2.97 m
area main= 296 ft²
area alt= 27.5 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,881 lb
empty weight alt= 853 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 2,723 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1235 kg
more general=
engine (prop)= Wright R-790-1
type of prop= radial
number of props= 1
power main= 225 hp
power alt= 168 kW
power original=
max speed main= 118 mph
max speed alt= 190 km/h
cruise speed main= 100 mph
cruise speed alt= 161 km/h
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 550 miles
range alt= 885 km
ceiling main= 12,000'
ceiling alt= 3660 m
climb rate main= 865 ft/min
climb rate alt= 264 m/min
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* 1 .30 cal (7.62 mm) Browning machine gun
avionics=

ee also

*Consolidated PT-1 "Trusty"
*Consolidated PT-3
*Consolidated PT-11

References